The Israel Defense Forces typically enlists recruits directly into the naval command course at the outset of their service. These recruits undergo years of rigorous training—combining classroom instruction, university studies, and at-sea operations—within one of the military’s most extensive and intricate programs before assuming command roles aboard naval vessels.
“O” is a notable exception. Having recently completed the naval officer cadets course, he did so only after spending an unprecedented 18 months serving as a regular non-officer mandatory combat fighter in the Navy before being selected for the advanced program.
One of O’s earliest advocates in this highly atypical career transition was Lt.-Cmdr. “Y.O.”, a senior commander with roughly eight to nine years of naval experience who also served as the deputy commander of a naval ship.
Y.O. told The Jerusalem Post that it is highly uncommon for a naval combat fighter to pursue the officer cadets course after already completing 18 months of mandatory service.
O Described as Exceptional, High-Level Combat Fighter
“From the very first day I saw him, I knew he was exceptional. You do not encounter a navy combat fighter of that caliber every day,” Y.O. continued.
Furthermore, Y.O. stated, “The reality of being an officer is that technology matters less than the people. I pushed him because I knew he could be a great commander. He has already dedicated four years and will give many more, including over three additional years.”
What made O so distinctive?
According to his commanders, his uniqueness stemmed from a combination of his inherent character, impeccable timing, and his readiness to step forward at the crucial moment.
Y.O. observed that his entire naval career had never before experienced operational stresses and complexities comparable to those following October 7.
However, O engaged early in his service as a naval combat fighter during a “once in a generation” period of intense combat marked by complexity and uncertainty.
Naval Forces Called Up on Oct. 7 Without Knowing Their Mission
All interviewees described being suddenly called up on October 7, caught in the same fog of war that enveloped the nation. They quickly deployed to sea without fully knowing their mission or what they would face.
Y.O. noted that the Navy presents an additional challenge: soldiers are cut off from their phones for days or even weeks, making them significantly more disconnected than even Air Force or Ground Forces personnel.
Many naval soldiers suspected that friends and acquaintances had already been killed during Hamas’s invasion, yet they had to suppress the urge to find out until returning to shore so they could maintain focus on their mission.
It was here that O truly excelled, demonstrating a maturity far beyond his years, according to Y.O.
Y.O. explained that O was one of the few on the ship who fully grasped the significance of their mission and voluntarily took on specific tasks, while many others struggled to navigate the internal emotional turmoil they were experiencing.
“He always understood what was required. Keeping soldiers focused is one of my hardest roles as deputy commander, and having someone like him was a massive advantage for the entire crew,” he added.
Y.O. further noted that this operational experience in the most grueling circumstances gave O a significant advantage over even the most talented cadets, who simply lacked that level of life experience.
In fact, Y.O. asserted that O would become a far better commander at a much younger age than he himself was, because during that brief initial 18 months, O accumulated more operational experience than Y.O. had acquired over the majority of his much longer career prior to October 7.
O Praised for His Calming Influence
Similarly, Lt. Cmdr. “Y.A.”, who possessed over 15 years of naval service and served as the chief of the ship where Y.O. and O were stationed, praised O for his broader ability to keep those around him calm and mission-focused.
Y.A. specifically remarked about O, “His level of articulation is highly unusual for someone who is merely 20 years old.”
Moreover, Y.A. noted that O could consistently explain to others “why a specific task needed to be done, and right now, and somehow remained extremely alert regardless of how little sleep” he was surviving on.
O described the officer cadets course, which commenced in February 2024, as exceptionally demanding both academically and physically. He noted that he had to master a wide array of systems now employed by the Navy on its ships.
He expressed his greatest pride in the fact that, “We significantly aided IDF forces in Gaza. I knew friends fighting there in 2023, and they told me we were concretely helping them. We received calls from battalion and brigade commanders pleading for assistance: please help us! And we went to see our impact and influence.”
Y.O. added that later in the war, O’s involvement expanded beyond attacking Hamas in Gaza; he also helped defend Israel’s skies during Operation Roaring Lion and protected Israel’s strategic assets, which often refers to natural gas fields.
O stated that his commanders “recognized my potential before I could see it myself.”
He concluded that he was “very happy with my decision to attend the officer cadets course. I could have remained in mandatory service and been discharged with most of my peers, but I believe in the Navy and our ships. There are incredible people here, and we play a very significant role in the war.”